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Biomedical subjects

E Espinoza

Publications and source records attributed to E Espinoza.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The effect of malarial infection on maternal-fetal outcome in Ecuador.

OBJECTIVE: To describe maternal and fetal outcome among pregnancies complicated with malarial infection. METHODS: Charts of pregnancies complicated with malarial infection were reviewed. Parasital etiology and maternal/fetal data was analyzed. RESULTS: During the year 2001, at the Enrique C. Sotomayor Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Guayaquil-Ecuador, 80 pregnancies complicated with malarial infection were admitted for treatment. This rendered an incidence of 2.1 per 1,000 live births (80/37,579). Mean maternal age was 25.2 +/- 6.7 years and the 19-29 age group was the most frequently affected (50%). On admittance, fever, chills, jaundice and anemia was present in 97.5%, 78.8%, 38.8% and 60% respectively. Falciparum was the most frequently presenting species (56.3%). Patients admitted at < 20 weeks gestation (n = 17) had a 76.5% and 82.4% abortion and adverse fetal outcome rate respectively. Among those admitted at 20-36 weeks (n = 55) the rates for preterm birth, intrauterine fetal death, low birthweight (LBW) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) were 34.5%, 11%, 40.8% and 48.9% respectively. Among patients admitted > 36 weeks, 87.5% (7/8) ended in a live term delivery. Adolescents presented a higher rate of anemia and SGA neonates. The overall (n = 80) abortion, preterm delivery and intrauterine fetal demise rates were 16.3%, 25% and 8.8% respectively. Chloroquine effectively treated 98.8% of cases and there was one maternal death due to falciparum infection. CONCLUSIONS: In this Ecuadorian population, malarial infection complicating gestation was associated to adverse maternal-fetal outcome, which was more evident among teenagers and pregnancies presenting malaria at an earlier gestational age.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Rab23 is an essential negative regulator of the mouse Sonic hedgehog signalling pathway.

The mouse open brain (opb) and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) genes have opposing roles in neural patterning: opb is required for dorsal cell types and Shh is required for ventral cell types in the spinal cord. Here we show that opb acts downstream of Shh. Ventral cell types that are absent in Shh mutants, including the floor plate, are present in Shh opb double mutants. The organization of ventral cell types in Shh opb double mutants reveals that Shh-independent mechanisms can pattern the neural tube along its dorsal-ventral axis. We cloned opb by a map-based approach and found that it encodes Rab23, a member of the Rab family of vesicle transport proteins. The data indicate that dorsalizing signals activate transcription of Rab23 in order to silence the Shh pathway in dorsal neural cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Conformational ensembles: the role of neuropeptide structures in receptor binding.

Conformational properties of several similar FMRFamide-like neuropeptides from mollusks were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was found that amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal variable regions of the peptides had dramatic effects on the populations of reverse turns in solution. The populations of turns, as measured by two independent NMR parameters, were found to be highly correlated (r(2) = 0.93 and 0. 82) with IC(50) values using receptor membrane preparations from Helix aspersa (Payza, 1987; Payza et al., 1989). These results suggest that the amount of turn in the free peptide can influence the receptor binding affinities of that peptide. On the basis of these observations, a model was developed in which only a single species from a conformational ensemble of an unbound peptide will bind to a particular receptor. Thus, the conformational ensemble reduces the effective concentration of a particular peptide with respect to a particular receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Anti-Dirofilaria immitis IgE: seroepidemiology and seasonal variation in an exposed human population.

The seroprevalence of seasonal variation of human anti-Dirofilaria immitis IgE levels were studied in an area where specific IgM and IgG had been previously investigated. An antibody capture ELISA assay was used to detect specific IgE. The IgE seroprevalence observed in the whole population was 12.6%. No specific IgE was detected in atopic individuals or in sera from people suffering other helminthiases. The distribution of the IgE anti-D. immitis seroprevalence by age groups did not show differences. Females had significantly higher levels than males. This isotype of immunoglobulin peaks in July, decreasing sharply in October, and persisting at a level similar to that of a non exposed population during the rest of the year. No specific IgE were detected in subjects with pulmonary alterations related to the parasite, suggesting a possible relationship between the clinico-radiological status and the type of immunoglobulin synthesized in subjects infected by D. immitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Are transient pulmonary solitary nodules a common event in human dirofilariosis?

Infection by Dirofilaria immitis is a rare cause of solitary pulmonary nodule. We describe the second case of transitory pulmonary nodule found by us in the course of a case-finding study, the third one reported in the literature. The detection of cases of transient pulmonary dirofilariotic nodules suggests that human infection is more prevalent than usually thought, and that this kind of manifestation is frequent in human dirofilariosis. Greater awareness is warranted in endemic areas.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Electromyographic feedback in the treatment of bilateral facial paralysis: a case study.

Electromyographic feedback in the treatment of facial paralysis has been shown to be a useful alternative to surgical procedures. In this paper we report on the partial recovery of a 7-year-old patient with congenital bilateral facial paralysis (Moebius syndrome) that had been considered untreatable by medical specialists. Biofeedback of electromyographic activity was provided together with specific instructions, social reinforcement, and exercises that the patient carried out at home. The rehabilitation training lasted 1 year, during which there was a substantial increase in the electromyographic activity of the muscles on both sides of the face. A follow-up after 1 year of discontinuing the treatment showed that the muscle activity had been maintained and that there was a marked improvement in the patient's mood and facial expression.

Abducens Nerve↗
PubMed1991

[A form for soliciting the measurement of drug plasma level and its use in a university hospital].

The correct clinical use of drug plasma levels is frequently jeopardized by neglecting to consider pharmacokinetic parameters at the time of sample drawing. A form to be filled at this time revealed that inadequate information concerning the drug was present in 28% and sampling time in 50% of cases. Accordingly, a new form is proposed to help avoid this information inadequacies and thus lead to better clinical use of drug plasma levels.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Purkinje cell simple spike activity during grasping and lifting objects of different textures and weights.

1. Three monkeys (2.5-3.5 kg) were trained to pinch an object between the thumb and forefinger and to lift it a vertical distance of 1.0-2.0 cm. Either the object weight (15, 65, or 115 g) or the surface texture (sand paper or polished metal) contacting the fingers could be varied. The object was equipped with a vertical position transducer, an accelerometer, and strain gauges that measured the grip force and the vertical load force. 2. In accordance with similar previously published studies on human subjects, it was found that monkeys appropriately scaled the grip forces according to the weight and coefficient of friction of the object. The grip force preceded the load force by 25 ms, and they both covaried with the changes in surface friction. 3. An analysis of electromyograms (EMGs) recorded intramuscularly from the muscles of the wrist and fingers including both flexors and extensors indicated that 26 muscles were active during pinching and lifting. Of these, 17 produced the maximum activity for the slippery surface and the greatest weight and the least activity with the roughest surface and lightest weight. 4. A total of 59 Purkinje cells and 123 unidentified units recorded from the paravermal and lateral cerebellar cortex were found to change their firing frequency during lifting the experimental object. 5. Increased discharge during the grasping and lifting was found for 56% (33/59) of the Purkinje cells and 80% (98/123) of the unidentified neurons, whereas 44% (26/59) of the Purkinje cells and 20% of the unidentified neurons decreased activity during the same period. 6. Significant modulations of the firing frequency with surface texture or object weight occurred for 59% (35/59) of the Purkinje cells and 67% (82/123) of the unidentified neurons. 7. One hundred and three Purkinje and unidentified neurons recorded in the paravermal and lateral region of the cerebellar cortex were examined for peripheral receptive fields, and of these, 43/103 (42%) responded exclusively to imposed displacements and tapping of muscles suggesting afferents originating from proprioceptors. A further 28/103 (27%) had exclusively cutaneous receptive fields on the hand that could be stimulated by brushing the skin lightly with a sable hair brush. Only six neurons demonstrated convergent cutaneous and proprioceptive receptive fields and no response to peripheral stimulation could be found for 26 neurons. No difference was found between the receptive fields of Purkinje cells and those of the unidentified neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1989

[Use of antimicribials at a University Hospital (1983-1987)].

We studied total utilization of antimicrobials from 1983 to 1987 at the Clinical Hospital, University of Chile. The method of defined daily doses suggested by the WHO was used for analysis. The peak value occurred in 1984 (28.3 DDD/1000 patient-days), the lowest in 1987 (19.9). Penicillins were the most frequently used drugs, followed by aminoglycosides and cephalosporins. The latter group was mainly used at the Intensive Care Unit (37.5% of total cephalosporin use) and by the Intermediate Surgical Unit (35.1%). Use of antimicrobials at the Neurology and Dermatology services represented 5.3 and 4.9% of total utilization, respectively (excluding cephalosporins). These methods may be employed for comparisons of antimicrobials use among Chilean hospitals.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Relationship between various erythrocyte antigens and hematologic disorders].

The antigen pattern pertaining to the ABO (A, B, AB, O (H)), Rh (D, C, c, E, e), Duffy (Fya and b), Kell (K, k) and MNS (M, N) systems were determined in 144 patients between 1 and 74 years of age who had leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. An association of phenotype Fy (a-b+) with acute lymphatic leukemia and phenotype NN with chronic myeloid leukemia was demonstrated (p less than 0.05, chi sq). Other associations were statistically not significant. Thus, a susceptibility of the aforementioned phenotype patterns to the type of leukemia described is suggested by these findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Influence of the assessment of the severity on the frequency of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

Sometimes it is difficult to compare data coming from different drug monitoring studies because of differences in methods, training of the monitors and other reasons. Many algorithms have been designed for permitting the objective and reproducible assessment of the causality of ADRs, but there is a lack of this kind of assessment for the severity of ADRs. This work was developed in order to show how important the standardized assessment of the severity of ADRs could be. For that purpose the same drug surveillance data were used for obtaining the frequency, characteristics and predisposing factors of ADRs, first considering all definite and probable ADRs--independently of their severity (study I)--and excluding after those considered as mild (study II). By means of an intensive prospective drug surveillance program, 2,559 patients hospitalized at the Medicine Service of the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile were surveyed. The found frequencies of ARDs were 34.2% and 20.6% for study I and II, respectively. In both studies gastrointestinal and metabolic systems were the most ADRs-affected systems but some differences on adverse signs and/or symptoms were observed. For example, in study I the three most frequent reactions were hyponatremia, hypochloremia and hypokalemia while in study II the three commonest reactions were hypokalemia, vomiting and hypochloremia. In both studies similar characteristics of beginning and probability of ADRs were found, and the highest part of the reactions was dose-dependent. But when mild reactions were excluded (study II) an increase on the proportion of dose-independent ADRs was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Prevention of postoperative pericardial adhesions. An animal study.

Following heart operations, adhesions uniformly form between the epicardium and surrounding structures such as the pericardium, mediastinal fat, pleura, and sternum. These adhesions make reoperations both difficult and hazardous. Three groups of 15 dogs each were studied to assess the effectiveness of pharmacologic manipulation in reducing the adhesions. In the control group, adhesions were created by allowing epicardial/pericardial surfaces to dry, and then adding cotton fibers and blood before closing the pericardium. In the methylprednisolone group, 500 mg of methylprednisolone was given intravenously at the time of operation, followed by 0.3 mg/kg orally three times a day for one week. In the ibuprofen group, 12.5 mg/kg of ibuprofen was given intravenously at operation and then orally three times in one day, followed by 5 mg/kg orally three times a day for six days. Dogs were killed at three to four weeks and the adhesions between pericardium and epicardium were graded. In the control group, none were adhesion-free and none had filmy adhesions; three dogs had dense patchy adhesions and 12 had dense diffuse adhesions. In the methylprednisolone group, 14 dogs had no adhesions; one had filmy adhesions; and none had dense patchy or dense diffuse adhesions. In the ibuprofen group, none were adhesion-free; one dog had filmy adhesions; four had dense patchy adhesions; and ten had dense diffuse adhesions. The near-total elimination of pericardial/epicardial adhesions utilizing methylprednisolone, if also achievable in humans, would markedly reduce the difficulty and increase the safety of cardiac reoperations.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effect of glucose and insulin infusion on the myocardial extraction of a radioiodinated methyl-substituted fatty acid.

We investigated the one-way, AV extraction of 14-iodophenyl-tetradecanoic acid (BMTDA) in the canine heart under fasting conditions and during infusion of glucose plus insulin in eight anesthetized greyhound dogs. Myocardial extraction measurements were made with dual tracer approach, using Tc-99m albumin as reference tracer. Prior to, and during, infusion of 10% glucose and 25 units of regular insulin, heart rate, blood pressure, plasma glucose, insulin and free fatty acid levels were measured. Myocardial blood flow was determined using Sn-113 and Ru-103 radioactive microspheres. The mean extraction fraction of BMTDA was 0.38 +/- SEM 0.06 at baseline and increased to 0.44 +/- 0.06 during hyperglycemia plus insulin (P less than 0.025). Plasma glucose and insulin were higher during the infusion (P less than 0.01) while plasma free fatty acids significantly declined (P less than 0.01). There were no changes in hemodynamics or myocardial blood flow during the infusion. We conclude that glucose and insulin infusion result in increased first-pass extraction fraction of radioiodinated BMTDA unaccompanied by changes in coronary flow or hemodynamics, implying an insulin-mediated augmented transport of BMTDA.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Identity between infectious pancreatic necrosis virus VR-299 and a Chilean isolate.

Nucleic acid and protein electrophoretic analyses of the Chilean isolate of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus showed that genomic RNA, as well as the major proteins, were indistinguishable from those of the VR-299 serotype. The data are in good agreement with the theory that the virus was introduced into Chile from North America.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

A seroepidemiological study of amebiasis in children of low socioeconomic level in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Sera collected from 606 children of low socioeconomic level attending the University and Children's hospitals in Maracaibo, Venezuela, were screened for serologic evidence of Entamoeba histolytica infection, employing the indirect hemagglutination test. The seropositivity rate was 7.7%. Most of the positive sera showed low titers (1:128-1:256). The overall prevalence of positive reactors increased with age. Stool examinations done on 516 children revealed cysts or trophozoites of E. histolytica in 4.4%.

Amebiasis↗